Toronto – Surveys of hundreds of private health clinics and patients reveal that extra user-fees amounting to hundreds or even thousands of dollars are threatening access to health care and hurting patients, and Canada’s governments are doing too little to stop it. A new cross-Canada study includes the results of surveys with of 136 private hospital, diagnostic and “boutique” physician clinics across Canada and with almost 400 individual patients. Both clinics andpatients were asked about extra user-charges for needed health care services. Under the Canada Health Act such user fees are forbidden. But the Health Coalition found evidence that at least 88 clinics in six provinces are charging extra user-fees. Two-hundred and fifty patients detailed instances in which they have been charged for care. The report, “Private Clinics and the Threat to Public Medicare in Canada” is available online at: www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca.

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